Jul 15, 2005   | COMMENTS     

one hand, you’re saying how great it is to have this office and all the great things this office is doing, but you stop short of making it a permanent, statutory office,” Orange said.

“Basically, we find that the office is functioning just as it is,” Wallace said. “We’re just saying that we don’t think it’s necessary based on the fact that we do have an office.”

Graham and Rosenstein, who testified at the hearing in favor of Graham’s bill, questioned whether Wallace’s testimony accurately reflected the mayor’s position on the bill. Rosenstein noted that Williams appeared to endorse the bill in an April 28 interview in Metro Weekly, a local gay publication.

“I certainly support efforts to upgrade the level of the office and legislation that’s been introduced in that respect,” MW quoted Williams as saying.

Morris said Wallace’s testimony correctly conveyed the mayor’s current position on the proposed legislation.

“The mayor doesn’t think it’s the best way to go to put this into law,” Morris said. “The mayor created the office and elevated it. He feels there will be more independence if it were part of his office.”

Rosenstein was joined by David Meadows, president of the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, and Christopher Dyer, a gay activist and member of the Logan Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commission, in testifying in support of the Graham bill.

Bob Summersgill, treasurer of the Gay & Lesbian Activists Alliance, testified against the bill, saying it was not necessary because the gay community has sufficient political clout and skills to advance its interests on its own.

“We find the bill unnecessary, counterproductive, and condescending,” Summersgill said. “The successes of the gay community over the last 40 years were done without having this office.”

Orange said his committee was certain to approve the bill, despite the mayor’s opposition.

“As far as I’m concerned, we’re moving full speed ahead on the legislation,” Orange said. “I will have a markup hearing in the fall, and I don’t see any problem getting this passed,” he said.

Morris said Williams would